Dieudonne Disi has started preparations for European Cross Country events which start November 25 until January 20.Rwanda’s leading long distance runner told Times Sport, three days upon his return to the country that he preferred to prepare for the European Cross Country Championships at home.Fresh from winning the Vodafone sponsored Delhi half-marathon in India, Disi returned home on Tuesday and headed straight to Ruhengeri in the Northern Province to start preparing in the high altitudes before returning to his base in Belgium in a fortnight. He noted that with the road race season coming to a climax, his immediate attention to win something when the European Cross-Country season gets underway. “I preferred to train from at home for different reasons, which to me, may as well contribute to my success in the various competitions that in intend to take part in. “Ruhengeri is good for its high altitude and weather condition and I hope I can use it to prepare for the challenge ahead,” he stressed.The European Cross-Country season opens with the Cross Internacional de Soria due on November 25 in Soria, Spain, IRIS Lotto Cross Cup due on December 23 in Brussels, Belgium, Edinburgh (Scotland) Cross Country slated for January 12 and end with the Cross Internacional de Italica due on January 20 also in Seville, Spain.Disi finished 22 at this year’s World Cross Country championship held in March in the Kenyan coastal city of Mombasa.The10.000, 5.000 and half-marathon national record holder has set his sight on winning a medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games before retiring from the national team. He became the first Rwandan athletes to qualify for the Olympic Games with his time of 27:22:23 in 10.000m at the Memorial Van Damme race held in Belgium, which also helped him surpass the minimum required standard ‘A’ time (for the Games) 27:50.00. He also produced another stunning performance in Udine, Italy during the World road running championship where he finished sixth in 59:32.Ends
